Automatic life raft ejecting means



March 30, 1965 BoRIs .I. BAGDAssARRoFF 3,175,236

ALso KNowN As MARTIN I.. SPRINGER AUTOMATIC LIFE RAFT EJECTING MEANSFiled 001'.. 14, 1963 FIG 2 I I L26 I 1 8'/ 8' I 9 II Io ,I5

7 a 25 I l!" EJEcTIoN f Is 2s f coNTRoI. 28

4 MEANS .7 5 FIG 3 3 INVENTOIL 20 scRIs J. BAGoAssARRoI-'F 22 Mm. MARTINSPRINGER aI f BY FIGS QW WWW United States Patent O 3,175,236 AUTOMATICLIFE RAFT EJECTING MEANS Boris J. Bagdassarroif, also known as Martin L.Springer, Box 891, R.F.D, 2, Riverhead, N.Y. Filed Oct. 14, 1963, Ser.No. 316,053 3 Claims. (Ci. 9-400) This invention relates to lift raft orlife preserver means for boats and more particularly for means forejecting life preservers from boats in an automatic manner.

One of the main hazards in the operation of boats, especially smallboats, is the danger of tire and explosion from gasoline fumes gatheringbelow decks. Gasoline fumes are heavier than air and settle down at thebottom of bilge space in the boat. -A cup of said gasoline fumes, ifignited, will blow apart any small boat. When such a thing happens theoccupants of the boat generally do not have time to get life preservers.As a matter of fact, they are generally blown overboard by the force ofthe explosion.

The present invention provides means for automatically ejecting inatablelife preservers such as small rafts. Means are provided to actuate theejccting means automatically upon explosion, or fire, as well asmanually. The automatic control means, which may be various switches,are spaced throughout the vessel at points of hazard.

More particularly, the invention comprises a container means for theinflatable life raft which is iixedly connected to the boat. Thecontainer has a piston and the piston is adapted to be actuated by afiring mechanism which may be a detonation device, a spring gun or otherequivalent apparatus. The life raft is of the type having a cartridge ofcompressed gas, and it is rolled up and placed in the container over thepiston.

Then, in the event there is any lire or explosion, the piston is firedand the life rait is ejected a convenient distance for instance 20 feet,so that anyone who is thrown or jumps oi the boat may easily get to thelife raft without any diiculty. Means are provided for automaticallycausing the compressed gas cylinder to inflate the life raft upon thering.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new andimproved life raft means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means forautomatically ejecting life preserver means for boats.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means forautomatically ejecting life preserver means from boats comprising lalife preserver and gun means which are adapted to re the life preservera substantial distance from the boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved lifepreserver ejecting means which are responsive to explosion and heat on aboat.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing specification and drawings of which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrative of the use of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the control means of theinvention.

FIGURE 5 is a schematic electrical diagram of typical control means forthe invention.

Referring to the figures, FIGURE 1 shows a rear View of a typical smallcraft 1, illustrating the location of the engine 2 and the location ofthe ejecting means 3 and 4 of the present invention. The arrows 5 and 6illustrate the trajectory of the life preservers when tired by theejecting means 3 and 4.

3,175,23h Patented Mar. 30, 1965 ICC FIGURE 2 shows a detail sectionalview of the ejection means which generally comprises a cylindricalcontainer 3', which may be of the order of size of a live gallon tin cancontainer, that is approximately one foot in diameter and 21/2 to 3 feethigh. This size should be adequate to contain a two man life raft 7,when rolled up in a noninliated condition. At the bottom of thecontainer 3 is a piston 8 having a shaft `8', which fits into a firingcylinder 9. At the bottom of the cylinder 9 is an ejecting means `lt)which may be an explosive charge for instance a shot gun type shell withsuitable firing pin.

Alternatively, the ejecting means lll may be a triggered spring, orcompressed gas, or equivalent conventional force applying means. Thebottom il of the container should be a substantial piece of steel toabsorb the explosion or reaction force of the ejecting means.

The force applying ejecting means lil, is adapted to be red or triggeredpreferably electrically, by means of the conductor l5 which is connectedto a series of control switches as will be explained. The switches areresponsive to heat and explosion. Manual control switches are preferablyincorporated for manual control. These switches are preferably locatedaround the boat at points of danger for instance in the engine space, inthe bilges, in the galley near the stove, and in the cabin space.

FIGURE 4 shows the container means 3 and 4 located near the stern of theboat l. The containers are connected by electrical conductors `l5 and 16to the ejection control means i7 which may be centrally located. Theejecting means is connected to a plurality of switches 1S, 19, 2li, and`2d and so forth, which are located at strategic and convenientlocations throughout the craft for instance, in the engine space, bilgespace, galley, stove, and so forth. The containers are set at an angleto the vertical for a good trajectory away from the boat.

FIGURE 5 shows an electrical circuit diagram with typical control switchmeans :18, 19 and so forth. Each control means may comprise a pluralityof switches connected in parallel, one switch 20 may be a bi-metalswitch which is adapted to make contact very quickly upon theapplication of heat. `Connected parallel thereto may be a switch 21which has a seismic mode of operation, in other words, being responsiveto explosion. The switch may be constructed by having a weight 22 on theend of one of the spring contacts 23. Connected in parallel thereto isconnected a manual switch 2d which is accessible to anyone close by.

The ejecting means 3 and 4 may be placed at conventional locationsthroughout the craft. The stern may be in a convenient location and thecontainers may be positioned so that the life preserver is ejected overthe stern or" the boat. This would be a good arrangement in case of aman overboard when the boat is underway.

The size of the ejecting container or gun would depend upon the size ofthe life preserver. For a small craft, a two man life raft may be rolledup and inserted in a container about one foot in diameter and two tothree feet ong.

Larger vessels would require larger sized life rafts and correspondinglylarger container guns.

This device would be quite useful for launching life rafts under bad seaconditions, when quite often conventional life boats are not able to belowered. For instance, the ship may be listing so heavily thatconventional life boats may not be able to be lowered.

The container preferably has a cover 19' which has a relatively loosefit so as not to interfere with the proper operation of the device. Thecovers serve to keep the enclosure dry and clean.

The life raft package may include an emergency radio, first aid kits andeven provisions if desired. A small radio transmitter of the typeadapted to automatically It broadcast S O S. signals would be adesirable addition to the package.

More specifically referring to FiGURES 2 and 3, the life raft packageincludes a cylinder 25 of compressed gas for instance CO2 which has avalve 26 which may be opened by the static line Z7 connected to thecylinder 3' so that the cylinder will be opened as the package isejected and the life raft inflated as it is ejected. Alternatively, thevalve 26 could be triggered by a water sensitive device.

Additional equipment such as a radio transmitter 23 may also be includedin the package. These devices Z5 and 28 are preferably inserted inspecial compartments or sleeves of the lite raft and their weight may beused to control the landing of the life raft in predetermined positionso that it will iniate in tip-right position. However, this is not tooimpor-tant on small life rafts which may be easily turned over in thewater, if desired.

Many modications may be made by those who desire to practice theinvention without departing from the scope `thereof which is defined bythe following claims.

I claim:

1. Means for ejecting life preservers from a boat cornpl'lSlIlg;

a container xedly connected to said boat at a substantial angle to thevertical direction and adapted to contain a lite preserver of theiniiatable type,

means to eject said life preserver at a substantial traiectory angle tothe vertical direction comprising,

piston means mounted in said container and force applying meansconnected to act upon said piston means to eject said life preserverfrom said container,

i and means responsive to iire and explosion to control said forceapplying means, said control means comprises a plurality of switcheslocated throughout the bilge, engine and galley areas of said boat,

said switches being sensitive tot heat or explosion to actuate saidpiston means to eject said life preserver.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said switches each comprises abimeta1lic switch responsive to ire,

a seismically responsive switch and,

a manually operated switch, all of said switches being connected inparallel, said switches being located at a plurality of points ofpotential re or explosion.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said life preserver is an inflatablelife raft having a compressed Iair gas cylinder: connected thereto,

and means to cause said cylinder to inate said life raft upon ejectionfrom said container.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,532 8/98Cappellini 9-32 X 2,264,321 12/41 Manson 244--1 2,496,479 2/50 Kochneret al 9-311 2,519,553 8/50 Faulkner 244-1 X 2,778,332 1/57 Talbot 244-1X FOREIGN PATENTS 903,198 8/62 Great Britain.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

1. MEANS FOR EJECTING LIFE PRESERVERS FROM A BOAT COMPRISING: ACONTAINER FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BOAT AT A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE TO THEVERTICAL DIRECTION AND ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A LIFE PRESERVER OF THEINFLATABLE TYPE, MEANS TO EJECT SAID LIFE PRESERVER AT A SUBSTANTIALTRAJECTORY ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL DIRECTION COMPRISING, PISTON MEANSMOUNTED IN SAID CONTAINER AND FORCE APPLYING MEANS CONNECTED TO ACT UPONSAID PISTON MEANS TO EJECT SAID LIFE PRESERVER FROM SAID CONTAINER, ANDMEANS RESPONSIVE TO FIRE AND EXPLOSION TO CONTROL SAID FORCE APPLYINGMEANS, SAID CONTROL MEANS COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF SWITCHES LOCATEDTHROUGHOUT THE BILGE, ENGINE AND GALLEY AREAS OF SAID BOAT, SAIDSWITCHES BEING SENSITIVE TO HEAT OR EXPLOSION TO ACTUATE SAID PISTONMEANS TO EJECT SAID LIFE PRESERVER.